Page 67 of Villains and Vengeance
‘What’s going on here? What is this?’ I ask him, doubt creeping into my head like an insidious fog. ‘Is it a trick? Because I can’t figure out why you’d need to—’
His kiss takes me by surprise and I squeak like a dumb little mouse that’s about to be gobbled up by the alley cat. Frustratingly, he doesn’t answer me. Instead, I’m eased beneath him. He caresses me as he positions himself over me and in this snapshot of a moment, I could believe he cares for real.
This is dangerous.
And it isn’t possible. I’m lonely and scared, and scrambling for a lifeline in a place without any. That’s all this is. I squirm beneath him.
‘Stop,’ I say, my mind doing a one-eighty and suddenly half afraid he’ll show the true colors he’s hiding from me here and now and keep going no matter what I say.
But he freezes and eases back, giving me a little space.
‘Answer me. Please.’
He studies me for a moment. ‘I wondered if perhapsyouknew.’
I open my mouth and then close it again, not sure what to say to that. Does he think I’m the one who instigated this? I shake my head.
‘I know it’s a trick,’ I whisper. ‘You despise me down to my bones. You all made that clear when you got here and you made your deal with Dante. This is part of your revenge. I don’t knowhowit could be, but it is, right?’
I want him to admit it, but, the sad truth is, I’d probably still fuck him right now even if he says yes. I like fucking and, from what little we’ve done of it, I like doing it with Axel and Jayce. But Idon’tlike not knowing where I stand with them.
‘It’s not a trick. I promise you it isn’t. The truth is I did hate you, Jules. At least I thought I did. But not for what you stole, and not even because you tricked me into trusting you, nor the trouble you caused me.’
‘Then why?’
His expression shutters.
‘Doesn’t matter.’ He leans in close to me, his legs between mine. ‘What’s important is that this, whatever this is, it’s real to me and to Axel. We care about you and we’ll protect you, lass.’
‘You can’t promise something like that. You don’t even know me.’
‘I know enough,’ he persists. Then he grins. ‘Would it help if I told you I’m starving and that I need to feed immediately?’
I purse my lips at him. ‘You aren’t and you don’t,’ I say with certainty.
His eyes sparkle in amusement. ‘No, but I could eat.’
I chuckle in spite of myself.
‘Now, will you be a good girl for me, Jules? Just for me?’
My heart flutters and heat pools in my abdomen. How does he know what to say to cause such a visceral reaction? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was his demon lust dust, but of course it isn’t because it doesn’t work on me.
I shift under him, my legs widening almost of their own volition.
‘I’m so fucking lucky,’ he groans, drawing close again. ‘Now, open those pretty thighs wider for me, my gorgeous human girl.’
My eyes widen as I stare into his. I want to, I realize. I want to do what he asks because I want him to praise me for it.
I bend my knees, letting him closer. ‘Good girl,’ he practically purrs, a hand running up the inside of my leg to my mound.
He gives it a slap that doesn’t hurt but makes me start and I yelp.
‘Wider,’ he growls low.
I do what he wants and he sighs, his face content as he feels me, a finger moving down and then up my slit. I stifle a moan.
‘I can’t wait to get you in a real bed,’ he mutters almost to himself. ‘I’m going to tie your arms and legs wide and so tight you’ll barely be able to move.’
